Yosemite Forum

Travelling to and visiting Yosemite National Park in Winter and most of Spring, when snow is on the ground. Includes visiting in winter, snow play, downhill and nordic skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and snow camping.

This is not meant to be rude or a joke question. I heard two guys just finished free climbing El Capitan. They took just over two weeks to do it. I am not a climber and was wondering where and how do they releave themselves when they are hanging 2000 feet up? Do they use a bucket and lower it to the ground? They don't just go bombs away do they? And I suppose they had to pull two weeks worth of food along as well? I've seen a commercial showing people sleeping in some kind of tent anchored to a sheer cliff face. I guess that is how they slept? Pretty amazing thing to basically climb all that way up like that. Not my cup of tea though. Congrats to them, I'm glad they made it.

Responsible climbers use wag bags for solid waste, which are carried with them, taken out of the wilderness and disposed of. It is not a difficult thing to take very light food along for a long climb. Bat hammocks or Porta-ledges are standard climber equipment as well.